TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchisee Tripp Moore explains why supporting charitable events is a top priority for his business.

1851 Franchise had a chance to connect with Charlotte area TWO MEN AND A TRUCK franchisee Tripp Moore and the marketing director Rosemary Hastings to discuss the brand’s ongoing efforts to give back across their local community. That ability to give back is something that Moore makes a top priority — he began as a mover and driver for the company in 1998 before purchasing the Charlotte franchise two years later. He now has four offices across the Charlotte area, while Hastings is responsible for overseeing and coordinating charitable events for the greater Charlotte market.

How important is it to give back to your local community as it relates to growing your business?

Moore: We have multiple local charities with which we have long-standing relationships. These relationships are essential to growing our business because most successful local businesses work with local charities and we're able to network and pass along referrals at these charitable events.

What local or charitable outreach efforts have you made in order to connect with your local community?

Moore: Our company hosts an annual drive where we collect essential items needed for local women's shelters called Movers for Moms®. We find local businesses and organizations that volunteer to host a collection box for these items and we provide them with the materials to help conduct and promote the drive. We then collect, sort and distribute the items to our partnered shelters on Mother's Day. It is absolutely incredible to see the overwhelming support from other local businesses to help with our efforts in giving back to the community. We were able to collect over 17,000 items for three shelters in the Greater Charlotte area for our 2018 drive.

What are your top ideas or tips to market your local business?

Moore: Word-of-mouth is the number one form of spreading the word about your business. Face-to-face grassroots marketing through chamber events, networking groups and partnering with other local businesses by getting them to refer you is crucial. If it's difficult to find a place to start, put yourself in the mind of your ideal customer and walk yourself through the decision making process that leads to your business. Who would be someone that could recommend you along the way?

How effective are charitable efforts in growing your business?

Moore: We are very grateful for the relationships we have with our charitable partners. Many of them share their local media exposure with us when we help out with their events and drives. Every mention on any platform helps add up to more exposure and growing our business. You never know who is going to see or read what; it could be your ideal customer!

What advice would you give to other franchisees who are just starting their businesses to best set themselves up for success on the local level?

Moore: My advice would be that if you haven't chosen at least one local charity to partner with, then do some research on which one your company would help make the most impact. Certain charities' needs might make more sense depending on your industry, skill sets and availability. Not only are you impacting the community by giving back, but your team members' spirits will be lifted at the end of the day. It's an excellent opportunity for your team members to take a moment to feel good about themselves, notice their self-worth and help them reconnect with your company's core values, leading to employee retention.